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TURKOMANS BETWEEN TWO EMPIRES: THE ... - Bilkent University

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August 3, 1511 (Cemāzī I 8, 911). 1500 He moved to Kefe and began to observe the events<br />

there. 1501 Bayezid entered Istanbul on Cemāzī II 17, 917 (September 11, 1511). 1502<br />

7.1.6. An Evaluation of Prince Selim’s Policy for the Throne<br />

The system of the Ottoman state apparatus and economy were established on the basis of<br />

territorial expansion. Any stagnation in territorial expansion, thus, created serious<br />

internal crisis. 1503 The later episodes of Bayezid II’s reign bitterly experienced one such<br />

crisis. Especially military classes were eager to maintain continuous warfare. This was<br />

the result of not only military heroism but also economic interests. Most of promotions<br />

and assignments of new timars, as well as extra payments to kuls, could be realized after<br />

military victories and territorial expansions. Thus, especially military wing of the<br />

Ottoman state apparatus was constantly demanding warfare. 1504 Selim, with his militant<br />

and warlike character, was promising to re-stimulate Ottoman war machine, which was<br />

in numbness for a while. Thus his war-like fame won him the favor of the members of<br />

military classes. More specifically, as Đnalcık states, the Janissaries, timar holders, and<br />

akıncıs wanted Selim’s succession for “it was the military campaigns that gave<br />

Turcica, IX/2-X, Paris, 1970, pp. 44-47. ALI follows IDR’s account on this issue. See ALI, pp. 944-5. On<br />

the other hand, ANMH recounts Selim’s behavior in a different manner which seems to be closer to the<br />

truth. To ANMH, Selim pursued quite an offensive policy; he followed his father and assaulted him when<br />

he reached him. Bayezid always tried to avoid a confrontation with his son. But Selim carried the situation<br />

into a point at which a clash became inevitable. See ANMH, pp. 56-7.<br />

1500<br />

ULCY1, p. 88; TNSB, pp. 281-2; ALI, p. 947. ALI gives this date as the day on which the battle<br />

occurred. KPZ notes that the Janissaries and kapı kulu soldiers became so sorrow when Selim was<br />

defeated in this battle. See KPZ8b, p.58.<br />

1501<br />

For detailed narration of the battle and Selim’s flight see KPZ8b, pp. 56-58. Also see SKB, pp. 89-90;<br />

YSF, p.33; HSE4, pp. 37-41; ALI, pp. 943-7.<br />

1502<br />

ALI, p. 947.<br />

1503<br />

Compare Bernard Lewis, The Emergence of Modern Turkey, London: Oxford <strong>University</strong> Press, 1968,<br />

pp. 27-27.<br />

1504 ULCY1, p. 77.<br />

440

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